Vecetable slicing machine



July 12, 1932. G. A. REISNER VEGETABLE SLIGING MACHINE Filed June 1. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l asza z/e Fez'srzw;

INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

y 1932- G. A. REISNER 1,866,947

VEGETABLE SLICING MACHINE;

Filed June 1, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wsZaz/M Ken s 7762,"

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 12, 1932. G. A. REISNER I VEGETABLE SLIGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 i .v m in 0 1" 2 13 mm I .s z/zz 22/ 9 i zstme K611577677 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV A. REISNER, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMERY H. HUGHE$, 01 AUSTIN, TEXAS VEGETABLE SLICING- MACHINE Application filed June 1, 1931. Serial No. 541,407.

The present invention relates generally to a vegetable slicing machine, and one more particularly designed for slicing potatoes in a novel and unique manner, in order to provide each slice with corrugated surfaces.

In carrying out the invention, 1 comprehend a machine of the character above-mentioned, whereby the potatoes can be sliced with both a minimum? of time and eliort, and wherein each slice is characterized by upper and lower corrugated surfaces to provide an attractive and palatable appearance.

The invention further comprehends a con struction whereby each severed slice of the potato has its opposite sides corrugated, with the grooves arranged parallel, or with the grooves arranged in right angular relation, thereby producing a slice of the vegetable simulating a waiile.

In this connection, the invention embodies amongst other features, a plurality of cutters capable of being singly and selectively actuated, or actuated alternatively in planes at right angles to each other from a common operating lever.

A further object of the invention resides in a novel construction of means for mounting and supporting the cutters for sliding movement, in planes at right angles to each other, together with a novel construction of means for singly or alternately operating the cut ters for the purposes above mentioned.

The nature and'advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein: I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a section taken on line l l of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the cutters and cooperating guide blocks.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the con necting link for the parts illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail view of one of the supporting brackets.

Figure 9 is a view showing the slice with grooves in its opposite sides in right angular relation.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing a slice with grooves in its opposite sides running parallel.

The machine forming the subject matter of the present invention essentially embodies a suitable support, which may vary in both size and design without departing from the inventive idea. In the specific embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, this support is preferably in the nature of a receptacle adapted to contain the articles to be sliced, and includes a bottom 10 and an annular wall 11 which depends an appreciable distance be-' low the bottom. The bottom 10 has a centrally located square opening 12 to receive the article to be sliced, indicated at 13 in Figure 4. Supported directly beneath the open ing, in a manner to be presently described, is a table 15 on which the article 13 is initially supported when inserted in the opening 12. Secured to the under side of the bottom 10 are two right angularly disposed stops 16, which lie in a plane above the table 15, to hold the article 13 against movement while being severed, and during which operation the table 15 is moved from beneath the article 13, being mounted for sliding movement.

Secured to the under side of the bottom 10, adjacent each of the corners of the opening 12, are spaced pairs of right angularly disposed brackets 17, each being of the construc tion as clearly illustrated in Figure 8. Each bracket is substantially L-shaped in cross section, with one of its branches provided with openings 18 to receive fastening elements 19 which secure the bracket to the bottom 10. The depending branch 20 of each bracket is characterized with a longitudinally disposed tongue 21, the arrangement of the brackets being such, that they provide guide channels CJI ; bottom of the receptacle.

through which the table is moved in either one of two directions during the operation of the machine.

Arranged in two of these guide channels are the cutters, positioned to be singly or alternately operated, and move in right angular relation to each other. Each cutter embodies a block 22 having grooves 23 in its opposite sides to receive the tongues 21 of the adjacent brackets 17. The under side of this block 22 adjacent the forward edge thereof is beveled as at 24 to direct each slice severed from the article 13 into a receptacle (not shown) adapted to be located beneath the Rising from each block 22 is a transversely disposed rib 25 against which bears the adjacent end of the cutter blade 26, the opposite end thereof projecting an appreciable distance in advance of the forward edge of block. The blade 26 is corrugated as shown to provide each slice severed from the article 13 with corresponding corrugated upper and lower surfaces. Projecting from the forward edge of the block 22, parallel with and extending beyond the free edge of the blade 26, is a sub stantially U-shaped wire element 27 which serves as a guide for the sliding table 15.

In addition to the U-shaped elements 27, I employ blocks 28 for guiding the table in its movement, one of these blocks 28 being used in connection with each U-shaped element 27 As clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 one of these blocks 28 is arranged directly opposite the U-shaped element 27 of one of the cutters, the ends of each block 28 being provided with grooves 29 to receive the tongues 21 of the adjacent brackets 17. Each side of the table 15 is provided with a groove, and the opposed grooves receive a tongue 30 formed on the adjacent block 28, and one of the U-shaped elements 27 of the cooperating cutter block 22. Consequently, the table is supported for sliding movement k with either cutter, and in either of two right angularly related directions.

In operation of the machine, the table 15, one of the cutters, and the cooperating guide block 28 move as a unit, each block 28 being directly connected with its cooperating cutter block 22 by a link 31 having oifset extremities 32 as shown in Figure 6.

Any suitable means may be employed for selectively operating the cutters independently of each other, or for alternately operating said cutters, depending upon the desired arrangement of grooves on the opposed faces of the severed slice of the vegetable. For this purpose, however, I preferably eniploy a T-shaped operating lever, the body 33 of which projects through a slot 34 in the wall 11 of the support. Pivoted on the eX- tremities of the head 35 of the lever are slides 36, each receiving a link 37 pivoted to the body 33 of the lever at an appropriatepointin its length, while pivoted to the outer ends of each link 37 is a right angularly disposed link 38 pivotally connected with the adjacent cutter block 22. These parts of the operating mechanism are arranged directly beneath a stationary plate 39, having opposed arcu ate slots 40, with the corresponding extremities thereof offset inwardly as at 41. The pivots 42 for the slides 36 operate in the slots.

In practice, the article to be sliced is placed on the table 15 through the opening 12 in the bottom 10, with the cutters in their normal positions as shown in Figure 3. The lever 33 can then be operated in either direction from the position it occupies in Figure 3, to selectively actuate either cutter, either of which singly and selectively used produces the same result. For instance, in Figure 1 I have shown the lever 33 shifted to the right, with one of the cutters moved into the opening 12 in its active position, the blade of which in this position, having severed a slice from the article 13. During this movement of the lever 33, the table 15 is moved wholly to one side of the opening 12 from beneath the article 13, while the blade 26 of the cutter severs a slice from said article, and is limited in its movement by contact with the adjacent stops 16. When this particular cutter is moved to the position as shown in Figure 1, the other cutter and its associated block 28 remains stationary, so that the movable cutter is guided by the stationary block 28 and the U-shaped element 27 of the stationary cutter, while the table 15 and movable block 28 are guided between the adjacent pairs of brackets 17. Just the reverse is true, if the lever 33 should be moved to the left instead of to the right, from its neutral position shownin Figure 3. lVhen the lever 33 is operated in either direction, the slide 36 moves along the link 37 in the direction of movement of the lever, thereby operating;

this link 37 and its associated link 38 to im-- part movement to the particular cutter connected therewith. The pivot 42 of the movable slide is moved through its particular arcuate shaped slot 40 to the position shown in Figure 1, while the pivot 42 for the other inactive slide, is shifted into the offset extremity 41 of its particular slot with the initial movement of the lever 33. Consequently, the pivot 42 of the inactive slide received by the offset extremity of its particular slot, serves as a fixed center for the arc of movement of the active slide.

When only one of the cutters is used, by reciprocating the lever back and forth from its initial position, a slice 43 is severed from the article 13, having its opposed faces corrugated, with the grooves 44 running parallel as shown in'Figure 10. However, by reciproeating the lever 33 to the full extent of its movement in opposite directions, the cutters are alternately actuated in planes at right angles to each other, thereby producing a slice 45 having opposed corrugated surfaces, but the grooves on each face crossing each other in right angular relation. Manifestly, the slices produced by the machine simulates wafiies, and possess both an attractive and palatable appearance. It is also obvious, that the potatoes can be singly lifted from the receptacle-like support and arranged in the opening 12 of the bottom thereof, and the articles sliced in very quick order and with a minimum of effort to the single operating lever 33.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily understood, I desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated or described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired, as fall Within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is 1. In a vegetable slicing machine of the character described, a support having a vege' table receiving opening, spaced pairs of guide brackets mounted beneath said support at opposite sides of the opening, a table normally arranged beneath said opening to support said vegetable, a cutter slidably mounted between one pair of brackets for movement across said opening, and including a corrugated blade for producing slices of the vegetable having corrugated surfaces, means for sliding said table and cutter as a unit with relation to the vegetable, a guide block associated with the table directly opposite the cutter, and connected with the latter, and adaped to be guided between the adjacent pair of said brackets, and means for limiting the movement of said unit in opposite directions.

2. In a vegetable slicing machine of the character described, a support having a vegetable receiving opening, spaced pairs of guide brackets mounted beneath said support at opposite sides of the opening, a table normally arranged beneath the opening to support said vegetable and having grooves in its edges, a cutter slidably mounted beneath one pair of brackets for movement across said opening, and including a corrugated blade for providing slices of the vegetable having corrugated faces, means for sliding said table and cutter as a unit with relation to the vegetable, a U-shaped element carried by the cutter and received in the adjacent groove of the table, a guide block located directly opposite said U-shaped element and having a tongue received by the adjacent groove of the table, said block having sliding engagement with the adjacent guide brackets, means connecting the cutter and guide block together, and

means for limiting the movement of said units in reverse directions.

3. A vegetable slicing machine of the character described, compr sing a support having a vegetable receiving opening therein, a table slidably mounted beneath said support and normally arranged beneath said opening, a pair of cutters mounted for sliding movement across said opening in planes at right angles to each other, each cutter including a corrugated blade, and means including a single operating lever for selectively or alternately reciprocating said cutters with the table as a unit.

4. A vegetable slicing machine of the character described, comprising a support having a vegetable receiving opening therein, a table slidably mounted beneath said support and normally arranged beneath said opening, a pair of cutters mounted for sliding movement across said opening in planes at right angles to each other, each cutter including a corrugated blade, means including a single operating lever for selectively or alternately reciprocating said cutters with the table as a unit, and means for guiding each cutter and table as a unit in its movements.

5. A vegetable slicing machine of the character described, comprising a support having a vegetable receiving opening therein, a table slidably mounted beneath said support and normally arranged beneath said opening, a pair of cutters mounted for sliding movement across said opening in planes at right angles to each other, each cutter including a corrugated blade, means including a single operating lever for selectively or alternately reciprocating said cutters with the table as a unit, and means for guiding each cutter and table as a unit in its movements, including co operating elements carried by the table and the other cutter.

6. A vegetable slicing machine of the character described, comprising a support having a vegetable receiving opening therein, a table slidably mounted beneath said support and normally arranged beneath said opening, a pair of cutters mounted for sliding movement across said opening in planes at right angles to each other, each cutter including a corrugated blade, means for selectively or alternately reciprocating said cutters with the table as a unit, including a substantially T- shaped lever, links pivotally connected with the body of the lever, cooperating links pivotally connecting the first-mentioned links with the adjacent cutters, slides supported on the first-mentioned links, a plate having opposed arcuate-shaped slots, pivots connect- 12o ing the slides with said plate and operable in said slots, each slot having an oifset extremity adapted to receive the pivot of one slide when the lever is actuated to operate the other slide, and means for guiding each cutter and table 'as a unit in its movements.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GUSTAV A. REISNER. 

